Teens use fake guns in two robberies

Two Fayetteville teenagers are behind bars after police say they robbed two women at gunpoint.The suspects were caught after one of the victims followed them and called police on her cell phone.

The women were in the Market Fair Mall parking lot around 9 p.m. Wednesday when one of the robbers approached them with a gun.

"As they got out of their car they were approached by two unknown black males ... displayed a hand gun and demanded money from them," Police Spokesman Lt. Chris Davis said.

The crooks were able to make off about $16, but that's when one of the victims decided to jump into her car and follow them.

"She apparently kept dispatched apprised of their location which helped officers locate them quicker than they normally would have," Davis said. "When they got there apparently the suspect was literally driving around the suspects, kind of like, I get the impression kind of corralling the suspects so they wouldn't get away."

Authorities say the suspects, 18-year-old George Phillips and 16-year-old Demetrius Gamble, face a number of charges including robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Police say the two are also suspected of robbing another couple in the same parking lot earlier this month.

"They were approached by the suspects when they got out of their vehicle," Davis said. The male victim said he didn't have any money, displayed his wallet showing it was empty. At that time the suspect saw that he had credit cards and or debit cards."

Police say the suspects made the couple get back in their car and drive them to a Cash Points ATM across the street from Market Fair Mall.

Authorities say both sets of victims are lucky the gun was fake.

"If in the case these were real guns, they could have easily taken shots at the victims and it could have turned out very bad for a lot of people," Davis said.

Police say they appreciate the public using cells phone to help them catch the suspects, but remind people to keep a safe distance away and let police do the apprehending.